High School Basketball Controversy: Is A Shot Clock Necessary?

The Weatherford Eagles beat the Anadarko Warriors 4 to 2 after the Warriors used stall tactics.

All this after the OSSAA decided against adding a shot clock next season. 

A shock clock is “the timing device that displays a countdown of the time within which the team possessing the ball must attempt a field goal,” also known as the 24-second-clock, according to NBA Official.

The shot clock was originally introduced to prevent stalling tactics in professional games and increase scoring, according to Sports History Network.

“That is not basketball to me. I have never viewed this as basketball,” Jeremie Poplin said, the Program Director of the Blitz 1170 about the Eagles v Warriors game.

OSSAA asked coaches if they wanted a shot clock. In Class 6A, 92% who responded were in favor. That percentage was lower in the smaller classes.

OSSAA says they had a lot of factors playing in on this vote including the cost of adding the clock along with employing someone to work it each game, but also it has to do with officiating.

“Once you get to that point officiating with a shot clock things change,” Grant Gower said, the Director of Officials with OSSAA.

The Anadarko coach was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Coach’s Association Hall of Fame.

Some say he did it on purpose to prove why shot clocks are needed, others say he just wanted to win.

“When you get down to it you want to put your team in the best possible position to win,” Coach Gower said.

“When you have the ability to move the game forward and catch up with modern times you try to do that if you have it within your power and I think the state has that,” Poplin said. 

We did reach out to both schools for comments Anadarko has not responded. Weatherford says they are moving forward focusing on the playoffs.